Draw inspiration from the colours of the Union Jack with bold red, white and blue striped walls. When it comes to children’s bedrooms, it’s all in the detail and clever storage ideas can transform rooms and play areas. This traditional trunk-style leather chest of drawers will give that vital extra space to create the ultimate haven to rest and relax in, while the gender-free hue will make this a great option for both girls and boys.

Layer up on texture

Children's Room

Layer up on texture

By Anna BerrillPosted on July 19, 2017

Transport townhouse bedrooms to the countryside and inject colour, pattern, and texture into white walls for a room children won’t mind sharing in. With a relaxed and rustic vibe, thanks to the painted wooden furniture, stripy throws, and white painted bunk beds, this dormitory inspired children’s bedroom will add a fresh twist on the classic rural look.

Balance out pink

Children's Room

Balance out pink

By Anna BerrillPosted on July 19, 2017

Pink is the classic choice for little girls’ bedrooms and bed linen is the perfect way to give rooms an instant life. A pretty pink printed Wendy house and whimsical wall stickers will add a dash of feminine charm, while the moody dark walls will stop the room from feeling too sickly sweet.

Keep it adaptable

Children's Room

Keep it adaptable

By Anna BerrillPosted on July 19, 2017

The temptation to go all-out with childish décor in kids’ bedrooms can be strong, but if you want a look that will last for years go for a simple, clean design that will adapt easily as your child grows up. Fresh and pretty, this bedroom is all about the pristine white walls paired with colourful textiles. The balloon print curtains and cushions will inject a sense of adventure, while the playful dot print fabric hung over the charming rustic beds will keep things from looking too washed out.

Turn alcoves into play areas

Children's Room

Turn alcoves into play areas

By Anna BerrillPosted on July 19, 2017

Make the most of awkward spaces by transforming alcoves into a colourful play area. Use vibrant felt bunting and quirky statement rugs will add a country village fete vibe, while helping to create a defined section within children’s rooms.

Distress pastel walls

Children's Room

Distress pastel walls

By Anna BerrillPosted on July 19, 2017

Resist the temptation to go all out and decorating little girls’ nurseries in pink. Paint panelled walls in soft blue hues for a fresh, feminine look. Couple with distressed wooden floorboards and traditional white cribs for rustic, countryside chic.

Go mad on print

Children's Room

Go mad on print

By Anna BerrillPosted on July 19, 2017

Adding bright stripe, animal or floral print bed linen can give a child’s room an instant update and is an easy and affordable way to adapt the room as your little one grows older. Set against pretty muted rose walls adorned with traditional stripe bunting, and pink accent pillows, to create a modern country haven for little girl’s to rest and play in.

Encourage creativity

Children's Room

Encourage creativity

By Anna BerrillPosted on July 19, 2017

Encourage creativity in your children’s playroom with an oversized chalk board. Just two or three coats of blackboard paint will turn an all-white wall into a blank canvas for drawing and imaginative play. If you’re looking for an affordable DIY project, then painting floors is an easy way to give rooms a quick update. Pair with tables in calming duck egg blue hues and colourful stools in jaunty bursts of yellow to keep the room feeling light and fresh.

Splash on some colour

Children's Room

Splash on some colour

By Anna BerrillPosted on July 19, 2017

Nothing is more calming than an all-white bedroom and it’s a great option for children, as it can be easily adapted as they grow older. Add a playful twist to an all-white boys’ bedroom with quirky bed linen of creatures and robots. The colourful lamps and fun robot objects will give a splash of accent colour.

Use primary colours

Children's Room

Use primary colours

By Anna BerrillPosted on July 19, 2017

When experimenting with pattern, there is no point holding back, and this playful print takes on the feel of being a wallpaper mural as it is used so generously. Opt for bold colour wallpaper in child-friendly primary colours and quirky images to bring colour and energy to boy’s bedrooms. Inject a sense of fun and pull the look together with statement rugs and comfy armchairs in similar prints.

Go nautical

Children's Room

Go nautical

By Anna BerrillPosted on July 19, 2017

Breathe in the sea air and inject a splash of adventure into your home with wallpaper embossed with sailing boats in cool blues and crisp whites. An easy and affordable update, complete the look with painted cupboard drawers in the colours of the sea and pair with a sprinkling of nautical accessories, such as fish door knobs, to complete the coastal chic look.

Let the sunshine in

Children's Room

Let the sunshine in

By Anna BerrillPosted on July 19, 2017

Bright sunny yellow makes a fabulous counterpoint to the dark wood-clad storage in this children’s playroom. A quirky cut-out within the storage wall keeps the look fun and adds an extra spot for displaying favourite toys. The bright design is also elegant enough to see its inhabitants beyond their early years – swap the small table for a desk, and you’ve got the perfect study space for doing homework. Try Ikea for great children’s furniture, including tables and chairs.

Photo by Taverne/Ngoc Minh Ngo

Work with stencilling

Children's Room

Work with stencilling

By Anna BerrillPosted on July 19, 2017

A Japanese-inspired stencil transforms this child’s bedroom from ordinary to extraordinary. The rest of the walls and furniture are white, but for a touch of colour blocking from a bright vintage quilt. Try The Stencil Library for a large collection of designs, or you could go for wall stickers instead, available from Supernice.

Photo by GAP Interior/ Dan Duchars

Tone down the twee

Children's Room

Tone down the twee

By Anna BerrillPosted on July 19, 2017

Is there a young girl who doesn’t go through a pink phase? If you plan to indulge it in your home décor, make sure you opt for furniture and furnishings that err away from sickly sweet – think longevity and you’ll be just as happy as your daughter with the results. Check out Cath Kidston’s reversible duvet set in Spot / Spray Flowers for a similar bedlinen set.

Photo by Camera Press

Use natural finishings

Children's Room

Use natural finishings

By Anna BerrillPosted on July 19, 2017

The temptation to go all-out with childish decor in a nursery can be strong, but if you want a look that will last for years go for a simple, clean design that will adapt easily as your child grows up. This room sticks to white with natural or painted wood furniture and fittings. Prettier elements - the white canopy over the cot, the vintage wicker chair – soften the overall look. Try the Butterfly XL armchair from Lloyd Loom and the Aruba Changer table from Mammas & Papas for a similar vibe.

Photo by Camera Press

Make storage stylish

Children's Room

Make storage stylish

By Anna BerrillPosted on July 19, 2017

The ultimate older girl’s room, this space has sweet pink undertones. But, with a red patchwork quilt plus various accessories and decorative touches in bold primary colours, the look shies away from full-on ‘princess’. Modular storage is a great solution for children’s bedrooms, which will need to evolve over the years – try Cubit for great modular solutions, or Kidsen for similar storage cubes.

Photo by Camera Press

Move clutter up

Children's Room

Move clutter up

By Anna BerrillPosted on July 19, 2017

Storage, storage, storage – the must-have item for any children’s room if keeping things organised and tidy is a priority. This playroom space makes the most of every wall for built-in book shelves that are designed to display books with their covers facing out. A clever idea, which turns the books themselves into colourful decoration. The Bluebell sofa from Sofa.com, with Thistle Belgian linen or Raspberry brushed linen upholstery, is similar to this design. Try Designers Guild for pink cushions.

Photo by Gap Interior/ H&L/Naashon Zalk/Styling: Jeanne Botes

Muddle up colour

Children's Room

Muddle up colour

By Anna BerrillPosted on July 19, 2017

Pattern layering is the theme underpinning this fabulous bedroom where kitch pineapple wallpaper is offset by a jumble of cushions and quilts. Orange and pink are the primary colours used here, though there are splashes of greens, blues and yellows at play too. Throw caution to the wind for this kind of look, but stick to a key spectrum of shades for best results. The Love wall hanging by Paul Smith, is from The Rug Company. Try Rosabella wallpaper by Suzy Hoodless for Osbourne & Little or Silver Pineapple wallpaper by Meg Matthews from Liberty.

Photo by GAP Interiors/ Dan Duchars/ Design: Meg Matthews

Play with textiles

Children's Room

Play with textiles

By Anna BerrillPosted on July 19, 2017

Fresh and pretty, this bedroom is all about the pristine white walls paired with pretty vintage textiles. The addition of powder blue on the bed keeps things from looking too washed out, with the colour picked up again in many of the patchwork cushions. Visit Cox & Cox for Shadow Boxes, which you can fill with colourful keepsakes and mementos, and find bunting at Great Little Trading Co.Laura Ashley’s Emily day bed, available in ivory or pink, is similar to this one.

Photo by Loupe Images/ Lisa Cohen

Block up on bold tones

Children's Room

Block up on bold tones

By Anna BerrillPosted on July 19, 2017

All the furniture in this nursery is clean-lined and blocky and, in the main, white – the perfect foil for alphabet, fruit and floral fabric upholstery that’s layered on top. The Train cot bumper from Little Baby Company is similar to the one shown and John Lewis sells a vibrant Numbers fabric.

Photo by Darren Chung/Mainstreamimages/bygraziela.com

Try open shelving

Children's Room

Try open shelving

By Anna BerrillPosted on July 19, 2017

Having a knack for displaying helps if you want to work a look like this one. Pick an underlying colour theme for cushions and bedlinen – soft blue unites the collection shown – and take the same approach for your open shelving – blue and red dominate here. The overall effect says ‘relaxed and thrown-together’ but in reality, the look is considered. The Cowboy fabric in this room is from Cath Kidston and you can buy various white bedroom furniture from The White Company.

Photo by Anitta Behrendt/Mainstreamimages

Go graphic

Children's Room

Go graphic

By Anna BerrillPosted on July 19, 2017

There’s not a sugar-sweet shade to be found in this graphic kid’s bedroom. Black and white on the walls makes a striking backdrop for hot red, bright yellow and green while furniture shapes are clean and unfussy. Kidsen sells a great range of modern kids furniture and Brio produces a bright yellow cot.

Photo by Anitta Behrendt/Mainstreamimages

Bring the countryside in

Children's Room

Bring the countryside in

By Anna BerrillPosted on July 19, 2017

This country-style children’s bedroom has a rustic vibe thanks to the panelled walls and white painted wood furniture. Add pretty bedlinen, vintage quilts and traditional wooden toys to perfect the look and make a gallery wall of your little one’s artwork for added decoration. The Children’s Furniture Company sells white bunk beds and Marks and Spencer sells a white Ashton 4-drawer chest similar to the one featured here.

Photo by RED

Make awkward spaces cool

Children's Room

Make awkward spaces cool

By Anna BerrillPosted on July 19, 2017

This bedroom scheme is a lesson in how to make the most of an awkward attic space. The answer is to opt for built-in beds with integrated storage – thus lessoning the need for bulky freestanding furniture. White enhances the feeling of space in the narrow room and portholes in the walls between each bed keep the design fun. For cute, unusual printed cushions, visit Le Train Fantome. The Baby Dot blanket by Hay from Made In Design, comes in various bright colours, perfect for this kind of design.

Photo by Photoshot/ Red Cover/ Deborah Whitlaw-Llewllyn

Brights are fun

Children's Room

Brights are fun

By Anna BerrillPosted on July 19, 2017

Die-hard fans of green will love this ultra-bright bedroom, which mixes dark apple and lime shades. If that’s not enough for you, the surrounding walls are painted red while bright pink picks out the cupboard door hinges and the display board. Try Siecle for a collection of bright paint colours and Rugs Direct for various striped rugs.

Photo by Photohot/Red Cover/ Nicholas Lemonnier

Keep it fresh

Children's Room

Keep it fresh

By Anna BerrillPosted on July 19, 2017

For a classic New England flavour, keep things fresh and neutral. Opt for white-painted rustic furniture and add gender-free colour with some multi-coloured bunting and gingham print cushions. For the best selection of bunting, from £10 for 5 metres, try The Cotton Bunting Company. For gingham cushion covers and accessories, from £10, try Babou.

Photo by Credit: Narratives/ Brent Darby

Channel ship style

Children's Room

Channel ship style

By Anna BerrillPosted on July 19, 2017

All aboard! This nautical blue and white room, with its painted ‘deck’ ceiling and built-in raised bed and storage unit, is the stuff of Swallows and Amazons. For a similar shade, try Albany’s Blue Mountain, £10.15 for one litre, from Designer Paint.

Photo by Credit: Gapinteriors.com/ Costas Picadas

Make corners a feature

Children's Room

Make corners a feature

By Anna BerrillPosted on July 19, 2017

Too small for an adult bed, this alcove is the perfect spot to create a built-in bed base and storage unit for a child. Painting the wall and applying vinyl stickers turns it from an incidental corner to the feature of the room. For a great selection of children’s wall stickers, from £10, try Spin Collective.

Photo by Credit: Narratives/ Kate Gadsby

Dollop prints on white walls

Children's Room

Dollop prints on white walls

By Anna BerrillPosted on July 19, 2017

A white room for children needn’t be boring when used as a backdrop for bright colours. The giant Beano print on the wall brings child-friendly primary colours and images into the room and marries well with the colours of the storage unit underneath. Find the Beano stretched canvas, £99, at Bloomsbury & Co. The 'Mammut' chairs, £10.99 each, are from Ikea.

Photo by Credit: Red Cover/David George

Add kid-sized furniture

Children's Room

Add kid-sized furniture

By Anna BerrillPosted on July 19, 2017

Colourful plastic stools underneath individual school desks and a blackboard wall make homework time much more appealing in this children’s room. The brightly coloured 'Tam Tam Pop' stools, £17.50 each, are available from Made in Design.

Photo by Credit: Narratives/ Polly Eltes

Try vintage

Children's Room

Try vintage

By Anna BerrillPosted on July 19, 2017

A wooden ladder leads to a private sleeping nook, evoking an intriguing world of eighteenth-century taverns – a perfect spot for children to immerse themselves in the adventures of Dick Turpin or Jane Eyre. Find a good local carpenter to recreate these built-in alcoves on Rated People. If you can’t source an antique wooden ladder, customise your own: buy a small ladder, from £82.30, from Window Cleaning Supplies and apply a water-based wood stain in Mahogany, £7.90 for one litre, from Wood Finishes Direct.

Photo by Credit: Narratives/ Viv Yeo

Few DIY projects are quite as much fun as planning and designing your children's bedrooms.

Decorating your kids' rooms is the perfect opportunity to experiment with colour and pattern: transforming their space into a playful escape.

Whether your little cherub is into fantasy or fairytales there's an interiors scheme that they'll delight in and proudly show off to all their friends.

Bold colours, playful patterns and whimsical prints all work wonderfully in you child's room.

Take the time to browse our colourful inspiration and find the scheme that works for you and your home.